Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
STAKEHOLDERS in Mutare District have combined their resources to support Government’s efforts to repair rural roads that had deteriorated greatly due to the heavy and continuous rains received during summer.
The intervention has helped to improve connectivity and ease trafficability concerns in remote areas.
The majority of these roads, among them Binya roads, had fallen into a state of disrepair, making movement extremely difficult for motorists and public transport operators.
The numerous potholes had caused considerable damage to vehicles, leaving public transporter questioning the wisdom of plying some rural routes.
Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), Northern Tobacco, Sub-Sahara, and other small-scale mining companies, farmers, and businesspeople, among others contributed fuel under the auspices of the Mutare North Constituency Development Commission, while the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), and Mutare Rural District Council mobilised three motorised graders, two towed graders, a dozer, and two tippers.
Among key rural roads currently undergoing rehabilitation, utilising cutting-edge technology to address pressing issues of land degradation and soil erosion, is the Odzi-Marange Road, bringing convenience to thousands of the Johane Marange Apostolic Church members, who use the road as a shortcut to their Mafararikwa Shrine in Bocha.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer, Engineer Raphael Sigauke said spot gravelling and grading of the Odzi-Marange Road has been completed, thereby resolving the trafficability challenges faced by motorists.
“The extensively damaged Odzi-Marange stretch has been successfully rehabilitated and is now passable. We are proceeding with the rehabilitation of the Odzi-Sabi Causeway. Meanwhile, other feeder roads are being attended to by the Mutare Rural District Council. There is effective collaboration, and work is progressing well,” said Engineer Sigauke.
Mutare North legislator, Honourable Admire Mahachi said it was difficult for public transport operators to navigate most of these roads because they were in poor condition.
He expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa for the devolution funds distributed through Zinara, which enabled local authorities to receive road rehabilitation equipment, which is being used to rehabilitate roads in the district.
“The district’s road equipment problem is now resolved. Mutare RDC, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), and other interested parties provided us with road equipment so we could repair the roads in Mutare North. With three motorised graders, two towed graders, a dozer, and two tippers mobilised, we are nearly at 90 percent. The Odzi-Marange Road is complete, target being to make it trafficable ahead of the Johane Marange Apostolic Church annual Passover which begins this week. We established the Mutare North Constituency Development Commission, comprising all stakeholders, including small-scale and large mining companies, tobacco contracting companies, farmers, the business community, Government departments, and churches.
“Resources and equipment are mobilised through the committee. This has greatly facilitated the road rehabilitation task, as we strive towards achieving Vision 2030’s goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy. Roads development is a crucial pillar in this endeavour. The initiative also aligns with the President’s ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’ mantra, and these stakeholders are indeed the ‘vene vacho’. We appreciate their unity of purpose and commitment to giving back to their communities through corporate social responsibility. We also invite other stakeholders who have not yet joined this forum to participate and contribute to the development of our area. Our priorities include road construction, rebuilding schools damaged by rainfall, and refurbishing clinics. I would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions made by Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), Northern Tobacco, and Sub-Sahara, among other business partners,” he said.
The commission chairperson, Reverend Dr Togara Mapingure said their task is to mobilise stakeholders to contribute fuel towards road rehabilitation.
“In line with the President’s mantra, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’ – we urge businesses to reinvest in the community from which they extract resources. This collaborative approach has enabled us to rehabilitate all roads damaged by heavy rains this year in Mutare North. We extend our gratitude to President Mnangagwa for inspiring community development and encouraging local authorities to take action. His call to action has fostered cooperation among stakeholders, resulting in seamless efforts to develop and maintain road infrastructure. Spot gravelling has already been completed along the Odzi-Marange Road as we targeted to make it trafficable before the Johane Marange annual pilgrimage,” said Reverend Mapingure.
